Entraining means for the crown corks used in connection with bottle closing machines

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for applying closures, such as crown closures, to vessels and includes a rotary conveyor for receiving vessels at one point and closures at another point and for discharging vessels with closures thereon at still another point. The apparatus includes means to dislodge closures from a supply point to compartments on the conveyor and, further, includes a detecting device for detecting the presence of a closure in a compartment as the compartment approaches the point where a closure will be supplied thereto. The device is operable, when detecting a closure in a compartment, to prevent the dislodging of a closure from the supply point for the respective compartment.

United States Patent [151 3,683,588 Ahlers [4 1 Aug. 15, 1972 [54] ENTRAINING MEANS FOR THE [56] References Cited CROWN CORKS USED IN UNlTED STATES PATENTS ggggg fi ggg 1,909,542 511933, .Ionsson ..s3/17 2,156,700 5/l939 Petersen ..53/64 [72] Inventor: Egon Ahlers, Bad Kreuznach, Germany Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Attorney-Walter Becker [73] Assignee: Seitz-Werke GmbH, Bad Kreuznach, Gen'nany [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Aug. 3, I970 An apparatus for applying closures, such as crown clo sures, to vessels and includes a rotary conveyor for [2 I I Appl' receiving vessels at one point and closures at another point and for discharging vessels with closures thereon 30] Foreign Application p i i Dam at still another point. The apparatus includes means to y dislodge closures from a supply point to compartments 4, 1969 Germany 39 545-0 on the conveyor and, further, includes a detecting device for detecting the presence of a closure in a [52] US. Cl. ..53/64, 53/77, 53/308 compartment as the compartment approaches the [51] Int. Cl ..B65b 57/00, B65b 7/28 point where a closure will be supplied thereto. The t [58 Field of Search.... ..53/64, 77 device is operable. when'detecting a Closure in a partment, to prevent the dislodging of a closure from the supply point for the respective compartment.

IZ CIainB, 11 Drawing Figures Pmmanwms m2 SHEET 2 [1F 5 PATENIEDmmm 3,683588 SHEET 0F 5 PATENTEU nus 15 m2 sum 5 or 5 ENTRAINDIG MEANS FOR THE CROWN CORKS USED IN CONNECTION s 1 f BOTTLE CLOSING MACHINES The present invention relates to closing machines of the rotating type for applying crown corks and, more specifically, concerns such closing machines which are provided with a plurality of closing heads which comprise below the closing element a lateral pocket for receiving a closure means which closure means are fed over a sliding path which is common to and provided at the vessel incoming and discharging side. In particular, the present invention concerns a device for entraining and introducing the closure means which stand in readiness at the discharge end of the sliding path into the pockets of the closing heads. I

With rotating closing machines of the above mentioned type, it is frequently encountered that closure means located in the lateral pockets of the closing heads and not applied to a vessel to be closed cause disorders. Such a closure means, which has been advanced to the closing head from the sliding path, for instance during an idling of the machine and therefore has not been used, will, in view of the lack of an incoming vessel, block those closure means which at the free end of the sliding path are held in readiness for being used. Consequently, congestion and piling up of the closure means will result when the machine is placed into operation for closing incoming vessels. Of particular importance are disturbances of the closing operation due to closure means which are additionally introduced into the pocket of an already filled closing head. In particular with high output machines, such a situation leads in most instances to abreaking of the vessel and a longer idling of the machine.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a device which, following a checking of the pockets with regard to non-applied closure means present therein, will pick up one closure means held in readiness at the discharge end of the sliding path and will introduce the same into the empty closing head whereas, in case the pocket is occupied, it will not perform this function.

This object and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: I

FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a portion of a crown cork closing machine which is equipped with the device according to the invention and which comprises a plurality of closing heads, FIG. 1 being a section taken along a horizontal machine plane within the region of the vessel incoming and outgoing side.

FIG. 2 illustrates a longitudinal section through a closing head of the machine with inserted closure means, said closing head being located within the region of the feeding means for the closure means.

FIG. 3 is a similar section as that of FIG. 2 but shows the closing head without closure means therein.

FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively illustrate details of the device according to the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a section through a modified device according to the invention in a closing head with inserted closure means.

FIG. 7 shows the closing head of FIG. 6 without closure means therein.

FIG. 8 illustrates a detail of the device of FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 9 is a section through still another embodiment of the device according to the invention in a closing head with inserted closure means.

FIG. 10 shows the closing head of FIG. 9 without inserted closure means.

FIG. 11 is a view of a portion of a crown cork closing machine with a plurality of closing heads according to FIGS. 9 and 10.

The device according to the present invention is characterized primarily by a movable feeler which is associated with a closing head and which during the rotation in the region between the vessel discharge and the feeding-in of the closure means checks the pocket with respect to a closing means being present therein while said feeler is provided with entraining means adapted to be controlled by the movement of said feeler and furthermore adapted, when the pocket at the end of the sliding path is empty, to grasp the foremost closure means, said feeler being furthermore provided with a closure abutment which is common to all closing heads and while being located along the circumferential path between the vessel discharge and the end of the sliding path and opposite said feelers, is adapted to bring about the adjustment of said feelers by means of an inserted closure means.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the feeler and the entraining means are arranged in the closing head while being movable perpendicularly with regard to each other. The feeler expediently comprises a longitudinally movable bolt, pin, or the like member which is adapted in or directly above the plane of the discharge end of the sliding path to be introduced into a pocket from that side which is located in the same plane opposite to the entrance of the pocket or which extends into the pocket and is located opposite to the closure abutment at a distance corresponding to the diameter of the closure means. The closure abutment is in this connection represented by a cam with the same or different radius of curvature and is expediently connected to a horizontal plate which is arranged in the plane of the discharge end of the sliding path and extends into the region of the vessel discharge side.

With closing machines of the above referred to type, it is customary to directly introduce the closure means withdrawn from the sliding path end within the region of the sliding path into the receiving pockets of the closing heads. For this operation there is available only the time within which the pocket opening is passing by the sliding path end. This nearly radial introduction of the closure means within the region of the sliding path end has, in particular with high output machines, the drawback that the time available for the introduction of the closure means will under no circumstances be sufficient to assure the precise introduction of the closure means and their centering in the pockets. For purposes of remedying this drawback and of forming a sliding path end which is open in the direction of the circulatory path of the closing heads, whereby it would be possible to transport the closure means from the sliding path end over an introductory path which expediently extends up to the region of the inlet for the vessels and it would also be possible to feed the closure means at the end or within this distance to the closing heads, it is suggested according to a further feature of the present invention to connect the closure abutment within the region of the sliding path end with the sides of the sliding path adjacent the vessel discharge, and furthermore to extend the closure abutment beyond the center of the sliding path. This preferred embodiment of the invention will permit the provision of a guiding member in the introductory path of the closure means grasped by the entraining means at the end of the sliding path. The said guiding member extends substantially tangentially with regard to the circulatory path of the closing heads and extends into the area of the inlet for the vessels. The guiding member is intended for introducing the closure means into the closing pockets. As support for the guiding member there may be employed the plate which supports the closure abutment. The guiding member is expediently connected at one end to that side of the sliding path which is adjacent to the inlet side for the vessels while the oppositely located free end of said guiding member extends along a curved path to the circulatory path of the closing heads. The said plate is beyond the end of the sliding path extended to the region of the inlet for the vessels. The supporting plate simultaneously forms the introductory path for the closure means which are located on the plate.

According to the present invention, the control of the entraining means may be efiected by a feeler member in different ways. Thus, for carrying out a mechanical control, the feeler member, which in a horizontal plane extends into the pocket, may be arranged in a carriage which is longitudinally displaceable in the closing head housing and by means of an adjusting force is automatically displaceable relative to the movement of the carriage. The movement of the feeler member may, by means of an inserted closure means in cooperation with a closure abutment, be converted into a control movement of the entraining means by a pulling or pressing element, preferably by means of a bowden wire.

For controlling the entraining means pneumatically, which may be preferred in some instances, the device may be principally the same as described above and merely the carriage and the feeler member may be designed in the manner of a known two-position threeway valve. In this instance, the entraining means is equipped with a piston adapted to be subjected to the fluid medium.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention for mechanically controlling the entraining means, according to which the feeler member in the horizontal plane extends into the pocket so that the control member necessary for the automatic introduction of the feeler member will be superfluous, it is provided that the feeler member is through a lever system connected to the entraining means and that the closure abutment which in cooperation with an inserted closure means moves the feeler member out of the pocket, is designed as a cam with different radii of curvature.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the closing machine illustrated therein comprises closing heads adapted to circulate in the direction of the arrow a. The machine furthermore comprises the customary star wheels 1 1 and 12 respectively arranged at the inlet and outlet section of the machine for transporting the vessels. Between the wheels 11 and 12 there is provided a path 13 for the closure means or crown corks which path 13 has lateral confining walls 14 and 15. The sliding path 13 extends from the front end 23 which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the machine and is substantially horizontal, the said path extending along an arc to a non-illustrated supply container from which the closure means move out in their position ready for application or, if the discharge of the closure means is not directed, are on their transporting path turned into the proper position for application to the vessels. A compressed air conveying conduit 16 (FIGS. 2, 6 and 9) leads into the horizontal part 23 of the path 13.

Regardless of the different embodiments of the invention as they will be described further below, the closing heads associated with the machine and shown in FIGS. 2, 6 and 9 comprise substantially a housing 17 adapted to be raised and lowered, and a centering plunger 18 arranged therein. The lower end of the housing 17 is provided with an annular closure member 19 adapted to the diameter of the closure means and provided with conical flanks. The closure member 19 will during the downward movement of the housing 17 press the rim of the closure means against the mouth of the vessel to be closed. Within the centering plunger 18 there is provided a holding member 20 which firmly holds the closure means in its respective position of application, said holding member may, for instance, for purposes of applying crown corks, consist of a magnet. Below the closure member 19 and the holding member 20, the closing head 10 is provided with a pocketshaped cut 21 which is open toward the sliding path 13 and serves for introducing the closure means. Adjacent the pocket 21 there is provided a centering tulip.

Also the embodiments of the present invention as they will be described further below correspond to each other as far as the most important structural elements are concerned and each comprises a feeler 25, 26 associated with a closing head 10 which feeler from the rearward housing wall 17 extends into the pocket 21 or engages the same. The said embodiments furthermore comprise entraining means 26 operable by the movement of the feeler, and closure abutment means 27; 69 arranged between the vessel discharge 12 and the end 23 of the sliding path.

According to the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3, the feeler 25 is formed by a bolt or pin 29 which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the closing head and is arranged in a longitudinally movable carriage 28. The free end of the feeler 29 which end extends into the pocket 21 is located opposite to the end 23 of the sliding path and is arranged in the same or nearly the same plane. The feeler 29 is mounted in the carriage 28 for longitudinal movement against the thrust of a spring 30 while the rear free end of said feeler 29 is provided with an extension 31 protruding from the carriage 28. The carriage 28 likewise has an extension 32 and in its turn slides in a horizontal guiding path 33 of the housing 17 for the closing head. A spring 34 likewise acts upon the carriage 28 whereas a cam member 35 fixedly arranged in the circulatory path of the closing heads 10 acts upon the oppositely located end which protrudes from the housing 17.

The entraining means 26 is above the pocket entrance 21 longitudinally movably mounted perpendicularly to the feeler 29 in a recess 36 of the housing for the closing head and through a connected bowden wire 37 is connected to the carriage 28 and the feeler 29. The wire core of the bowden wire engages the extension 32, and the hose of the bowden wire engages the extension 31. The connection of the core with the entraining means 26 is effected in a longitudinal slot 38. Its long'tudinal dimension will assure an escape of the entraining means 26 into the interior 17 of the housing when the closure means are blocked (FIG. 4). To this end and for purposes of obtaining a point contact with the closure means, also the lower end of the entraining means 26 is slanted as shown in FIG. 5. When the entraining means 26 is in its effective position, the latter which is subjected to the thrust of a spring 39, protrudes from the housing 17 while the free end of the entraining means is located closely above the end 23 of the sliding path. The spacing from the plane of the sliding path end 23 corresponds substantially to half the height of the closure means to be applied to the vessels.

As will be seen from FIG. 1, the closure abutment 27 extends primarily from the discharge star or turnstile 12 to the sliding path end 23 and has the shape of an arc. The closure abutment 27 is at a distance corresponding to the diameter of the closure means to be applied to the vessels spaced from and located opposite to the free ends of the feelers 29 which ends extend into the pocket 21 and is connected to a curved horizontal plate 40 which is arranged in the plane of the sliding path end 23. Plate 40 likewise extends from the sliding path end 23 to the range of the discharge turnstile 12.

Plate 40 additionally extends beyond this plate section into the region of the inlet turnstile 1 1. Expediently, the plate 40 together with the sliding path end 23 forms a common structural element which encloses the abutment 27 which latter, for purposes of forming a sliding path end 23 which is open in the circulatory direction of the closing heads 10, is connected to the lateral sliding path confining walls 15 and additionally has that end which is located within the region of the sliding path 13 protrude beyond the central axis of the sliding path 13.

In that section of plate 40 which is directed toward the inlet turnstile 11, there is provided a curve-shaped guiding member 41. This guiding member 41 is connected to the sliding path end 23 and is connected to the sliding path confining wall 14 adjacent to the tumstile 11. The member 41 has its free end extend into the range of the vessel inlet 11 while being directed substantially tangentially with regard to the circulatory path of the closing heads 10. A pressure fluid conveying conduit 42 leads to the connecting area of the guiding member 41 at the confining wall 14.

Adevice built up in the above described manner operates as follows. The closure means withdrawn from the supply container slide along the path 13 to the inlet of the closing heads of the machine after said closure means have turned, into their proper position of application. The closure means are accelerated by compressed air passing through at 16. The respective first closure means will then engage that part of the abutment 27 which extends into the sliding path end 23. The lateral confinement 15 of the path 13 as well as the compressed air jet conduit 42 prevent the closure means resting on plate 40 and being ready for introduction into a closing head 10 from escaping laterally. If now the closing head 10 which rotates together with the entraining means 26 in the direction of the arrow at, which entraining means 26 is in its effective position, which means protrudes from the housing 17, into the range of the cam member after it has passed by the outlet turnstile 12, the cam member 35 engages the carriage 28 and moves the latter against the thrust of spring 34 in a direction toward the pocket 21 while the feeler 29 enters the pocket 21. If the pocket 21 does not contain a closure means between the turnstile 12 and the sliding path end 23 of the circulatory path, it will be appreciated that with continued circulation of the closing head 10, the entraining means 26 remains in its efiective position and at a distance suitable for grasping a closure means passing over the plate (FIG. 3).

At the sliding path end 23, the entraining means 26 grasps the front or foremost closure means standing in readiness. The front closure means resting on plate 40 is taken along in the circumferential direction a and is subsequently moved against the guiding member 41 which is directed tangentially with regard to the circulatory path. Approximately at this time, the cam member 35 releases the carriage 28 which latter, in view of the spring 34, will again occupy its starting position while the feeler 29 leaves the pocket 21. The guiding member 41 will now urge the closure means being transported by the entraining means 26 into the circulatory path of the closing head 10 to move into the pocket 21. In this connection the entraining means 26 will engage the closure means and move the same along the plate 40 in the direction of the vessel inlet turnstile 11 until it is introduced into the pocket 21 as far as 7 possible and its entrainment is secured. An expedient further influence upon the released closure means by leading the guiding member 41 into the direct range of the pocket 21 will assure that the closure means already prior to reaching the inlet turnstile l 1 and before the downward movement of the closing head 10 starts, is completely introduced into the pocket 21 and centered and is placed into readiness for the closing step together with an incoming vessel to be closed.

If, however, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the pocket 21 is occupied by a closure means on that portion of the circulatory path which is located between the turnstile 12 and the sliding path end 23, the feeler 29 introduced by the cam member 35 into the pocket 21 will engage the rim of the closure means. The closure means which is prevented from being thrown out of the pocket 21 by the firm closure abutment 27 will, during the further engagement of the carriage 28 by the cam member 35, bring the feeler 29 to a standstill. In view of the still continuing longitudinal movement of the carriage 28, the entraining means 26 is through the intervention of the bowden wire 37 moved to its ineffective position. Returned into the housing 17, the entraining means 27 will'pass over the sliding path end 23 without engaging a closure means in front thereof and will adopt its effective position as soon as the carriage 28 has left the cam member 35 and as soon as the carriage 28 and the feeler 29, under the influence of springs 30 and 34, return to their starting position.

In conformity with the pitch of the closing machine, the guiding member extending into the range of the inlet for the vessels may extend along the path of one or a plurality of closing heads. Regardless of the said pitch or the spacing between the closing heads, the introduction of the closure means is completed at the latest within the range of the inlet for the vessels and prior to in open vessel having moved into the respective closing ead.

When the mechanically operable entraining means 26 of FIGS. 2 and 3 is replaced by an entraining means 26 operable pneumatically for the closing head of FIGS. 6 and 7, the device according to the invention is changed merely insofar as the carriage 28 which is adjustable against the thrust of spring 34 and the feeler member 29 which is longitudinally adjustably arranged in said carriage and is under the influence of spring 30 and is adapted to be introduced into the pocket 21, is designed in the manner of a two-position three-way valve (FIG. 8). A compressed air conveying conduit 43 leads to the hollow chamber 47 in carriage 28, in which chamber there is longitudinally movably arranged a slide or valve spool 48 which is connected to the horizontally directed feeler member 29. A further conduit 44 which communicates with the slide or valve chamber 47 leads to a piston 45 which carries the entraining means 26 and while being under the influence of a spring 50 is arranged in housing 17. A third conduit 46 leads into the atmosphere. Also in this instance the entraining means 26 is by means of a spring 39 so arranged in the interior of the piston 45 that it can escape. The control of the entraining means 26 by the feeler member 29 and the carriage 28 in cooperation with a closure means located in the pocket 21 of a closing head and arrested by the closure abutment 27 is effected in the above described manner.

More specifically, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, and in conformity with FIG. 6, the valve spool 48 has its tip located outside the pocket 21 of the closure head. In this position, the compressed air conduit 43 is open and through valve chamber 47 communicates with conduit 44. The compressed air acting upon piston 45 lifts the follower 26 into its ineffective position. The third conduit 46 which leads into the atmosphere and forms the venting line is closed when occupying its FIG. 8 position. When feeler member 29 occupies its FIG. 7 position in which the tip extends into pocket 21, the feeler member 29 closes off the compressed air conduit 43. The piston chamber 45 is vented through open conduit 44 which communicates with the third conduit 46 so that the follower 26 will occupy its effective position.

According to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the closing head 10 is equipped with a longitudinally movable feeler 60 which already in its starting position extends into the pocket 21. In the horizontal guiding path 33 of the closing head housing 17, the closing head 10 is under the influence of a spring 61 and through a lever system 63, 64 acts upon the entraining means 26. Adjacent to the linkage member 63 provided on the feeler member 60 and extending outwardly through a passage 62 of the housing there is provided a rod 64 which extends about the closing head housing 17 and is connected to the arm 65 of an angle lever 65, 66 which is rotatable about the point 67. Lever arm 66 engages a cutout 68 of the entraining means 26. The cutout 68 permits an escape of the entraining means against the thrust of spring 39.

As will seen from FIG. 11, with this embodiment, the cam member 35 is superfluous. Instead there is provided the fixed closure abutment 69 forming a cam with difierent curvature, said abutment 69 extending from the discharge tumstile 12 to the sliding path end 23.

The cam path 69 which rises toward the sliding path end 23 and is likewise extended beyond the sliding path center causes a closure means in pocket 21 to engage the feeler member 60 extending into the pocket 21 when the closing head 10 rotates, and moves said feeler member 60 in view of the subsequent further change in the position of the inserted closure means to a position outside the closing head center out of the pocket 21 (FIG. 9). With this longitudinal movement of the feeler member 60, which is effected in cooperation with the inserted closure means, the entraining means 26 is made ineffective by means of the linkage 63, 64 and lever 65, 66, and the entraining means 26 passes beyond the sliding path end 23 without grasping the closure means occupying a position of readiness. After the closure means has moved from the closure abutment 69 and again occupies its central position in the closing head 10, the entraining means 26 returns to its effective position. During the subsequent rotation of the closing head 10, the entraining means 26 retains its position and after the inserted closure means has been applied to a vessel, carries along the foremost closure means which is in readiness at the sliding path end 23. Said last mentioned closure means is, as mentioned above, in cooperation with the guiding member 41 introduced into the pocket 21 of the closing head 10.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular arrangements and constructions shown in the drawings but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for applying closures to vessels, rotary conveying means having first radially outwardly opening compartments to receive vessels and second radially outwardly opening compartments to receive closures for the vessels, means for removing vessels from the said first compartments at a first peripheral region about said conveying means, means for supplying vessels to said first compartments at a second peripheral region about said conveying means, supply means for supplying closures to a supply point adjacent the periphery of said conveying means at a third peripheral region about said conveying means positioned between said first and second peripheral regions, feeler means carried by said conveying means for each second compartment operable to assume a first position when a closure is present in the respective compartment and a second position when a closure is absent from the compartment as the said compartment moves past said third peripheral region, an entraining member on said conveying means for each second compartment movable in a path which intersects said supply point and operable when in a first closure bypassing position to pass idly by a closure in said supply point and when in a second closure engaging position to engage a closure in said supply point and cause it to move from said supply point into the respective second compartment, and means connecting each feeler means with the respective entraining member and operable to cause said entraining member to assume its said first position when the respective said feeler means assumes its said first position and to assume its said second position when the respective said feeler means assumes its said second position.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, which includes a closure abutment positioned at the radially outer sides of said second compartments and extending from said first peripheral region to said third peripheral region, the said feeler means for each said second compartment being adapted to project into respective second compartments from the radially inner side, said abutment supporting closures in said second compartments for operative cooperation with the respective feeler means.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, in which said closures are stopped in said supply point against radially inward movement and each said entraining member is operable for dislodging closures from said supply point in the circumferential direction of movement of said conveying means, said closure abutment extending a sufficient distance intosaid third peripheral region to permit a said entraining member to pass completely beyond a closure in said supply point while the said entraining member is in the said first closure bypassing position thereof. I

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, in which each said feeler means is in the form of a pin movable radially of the respective second compartment while each entraining member is in the form of a plunger movable axially of the respective second compartment.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3, which includes a cam extending from adjacent said supply point inwardly toward the periphery of said conveying means inthe direction of movement of said conveying means and operable to engage the radially outer sides of cloa support plate extending circumferentially of said conveying means and supporting said closure abutment and said cam and said lateral walls and also supplying a surface extending beneath said second compartment from said first peripheral region to said second peripheral region and leading from said supply point toward said second compartment along the path taken by said closures.

8. An apparatus according to claim 4, which includes a carriage supporting each said pin and spring biased radially inwardly on said conveying means, each pin being spring biased in its carriage in the radially inward direction of said conveying means, and means engageable with the radially inner end of the carriage as the respective second compartment moves from said first peripheral region to said third peripheral region for moving the carriage against the spring bias thereon to thrust the respective pin radially inwardly of the di x r'r fig iiii w or gi claim 8, in which the said means connecting each feeler means with the respective entraining member is a bowden wire having a housing connected to said pin and a core connected at one end to said carriage and on the other end to said plunger.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8, in which the said means connecting each feeler means with the respective entraining member is a fluid circuit, each said pin together with the respective carriage forming a three way valve, said plunger being spring biased toward closure engaging position and having a fluid operable area responsive to fluid pressure to move the plunger to closure bypassing position, said fluid operable area being connected by said circuit to said valve, said valve supplying fluid to said area when a closure is detected in the respective second compartment.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8, in which said means engageable with said carriages is a curved cam element mounted adjacent the path of said second compartments at the radially inner sides thereof and extending over the range from said first peripheral region to said third peripheral region.

12. An apparatus according to claim 4, in which each said pin is spring biased radially inwardly of the respective second compartment, linkage connecting each pin with the respective plunger, said closure abutment causing a closure in a second compartment to move said pin to retract the respective-plunger to closure bypassing position, and-a spring biasing each plunger toward closure engaging position. 

1. In an apparatus for applying closures to vessels, rotary conveying means having first radially outwardly opening compartments to receive vessels and second radially outwardly opening compartments to receive closures for the vessels, means for removing vessels from the said first compartments at a first peripheral region about said conveying means, means for supplying vessels to said first compartments at a second peripheral region about said conveying means, supply means for supplying closures to a supply point adjacent the periphery of said conveying means at a third peripheral region about said conveying means positioned between said first and second peripheral regions, feeler means carried by said conveying means for each second compartment operable to assume a first position when a closure is present in the respective compartment and a second position when a closure is absent from the compartment as the said compartment moves past said third peripheral region, an entraining member on said conveying means for each second compartment movable in a path which intersects said supply point and operable when in a first closure bypassing position to pass idly by a closure in said supply point and when in a second closure engaging position to engage a closure in said supply point and cause it to move from said supply point into the respective second compartment, and means connecting each feeler means with the respective entraining member and operable to cause said entraining member to assume its said first position when the respective said feeler means assumes its said first position and to assume its said second position when the respective said feeler means assumes its said second position.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, which includes a closure abutment positioned at the radially outer sides of said second compartments and extending from said first peripheral region to said third peripheral region, the said feeler means for each said second compartment being adapted to project into respective second compartments from the radially inner side, said abutment supporting closures in said second compartments for operative cooperation with the respective feeler means.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, in which said closures are stopped in said supply point against radially inward movement and each said entraining member is operable for dislodging closures from said supply point in the circumferential direction of movement of said conveying means, said closure abutment extending a sufficient distance into said third peripheral region to permit a said entraining member to pass completely beyond a closure in said supply point while the said entraining member is in the said first closure bypassing position thereof.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 3, in which each said feeler means is in the form of a pin movable radially of the respective second compartment while each entraining member is in the form of a plunger movable axially of the respective second compartment.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 3, which includes a cam extending from adjacent said supply point inwardly toward the periphery of said conveying means in the direction of movement of said conveying means and operable to engage the radially outer sides of closures dislodged from said supply point by said entraining members and to guide said closures into respective said second compartments.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, which includes a supply path leading to said supply point and having lateral walls, said cam having one end connected to one of said lateral walls.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 6, which includes a support plate extending circumferentially of said conveying means and supporting said closure abutment and said cam and said lateral walls and also supplying a surface extending beneath said second compartment from said first peripheral region to said second peripheral region and leading from said supply point toward said second compartment along the path taken by said closures.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 4, which includes a carriage supporting each said pin and spring biased radially inwardly on said conveying means, each pin being spring biased in its carriage in the radially inward direction of said conveying means, and means engageable with the radially inner end of the carriage as the respective second compartment moves from said first peripheral region to said third peripheral region for moving the carriage against the spring bias thereon to thrust the respective pin radially inwardly of the respective second compartment.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 8, in which the said means connecting each feeler means with the respective entraining member is a bowden wire having a housing connected to said pin and a core connected at one end to said carriage and on the other end to said plunger.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 8, in which the said means connecting each feeler means with the respective entraining member is a fluid circuit, each said pin together with the respective carriage forming a three way valve, said plunger being spring biased toward closure engaging position and haviNg a fluid operable area responsive to fluid pressure to move the plunger to closure bypassing position, said fluid operable area being connected by said circuit to said valve, said valve supplying fluid to said area when a closure is detected in the respective second compartment.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 8, in which said means engageable with said carriages is a curved cam element mounted adjacent the path of said second compartments at the radially inner sides thereof and extending over the range from said first peripheral region to said third peripheral region.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 4, in which each said pin is spring biased radially inwardly of the respective second compartment, linkage connecting each pin with the respective plunger, said closure abutment causing a closure in a second compartment to move said pin to retract the respective plunger to closure bypassing position, and a spring biasing each plunger toward closure engaging position. 